Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-08-20
CHAPTER XXI.
HE SHALL DIE,

kerstroom and New Scotland districts of the
Iransvaal, and which more resembles a true
north country mist than anything else, was
falling gently but persistently. This condition
of affairs was as favorable as possible to their
enterprise, and under cover of it the Hotten-
tot and the white girl crept far down the hill
to within twelve or fourteen PAGES of the
back of the wagon house. Then Jantje, who
was leading, suddenly put back his hand and
checked her, pnd at that moment jess caught
the sound OF q sentry's footsteps as he tramped
l~eisurely up and down. For a couple Of
minutes or so they stopped thus, not knowing
what to do, when suddenly a man came round
the corner Of the building holding o lantern
i'll his hand. On seeing the lantern Jess first
impulse was to fly, but Jantjc, by q motion,
made her understand that she was to stop
still. The man with the lantern advanced
toward the other man, holding the light above
his head, and looking dim and gigantic in the
mist and rain. Presently he turned his face.
and jess saw that it was Frank Muller him
self. He stood thus for q moment waiting
till the sentry was near to him.
"You can go to your supper" he said.
"Come back in half an hour. will be re-
sponsible for the prisoners till then"
The MAJ growled out an answer, something
about the rain, and then departed round the
end of the building, followed by Muller.
"Now then, come on,n whispered Jantje;
there is a hole in the store room wall, and
you may he able to speak to Missile Bessie"
jess did not require a second invitation, but
slipped upt to the wall in five seconds. Passing
her hand over the stonewOrk, she found the
air hole. which she renlcmbered well, for they
used to play bo-peep there as children, and
was about to whisper through it, when sud
denly tho door at the other end opened, and
Frank Muller entered, bearing the lantern in
his hand. For n moment he stood on the
threshold, opening the slide of the lantern in
order to increase the light. His hat was off,
and he had a cape of dark cloth thrown over
his shoulders, which seemed to add to his
great breadth, and tho thought flashed
through the mind of jess as she looked ut
him through the hole and tho light struck
upon his face and form, and glinted down his
golden beard, that he was the most magnif-
cent specimen of humanity she had ever seen.
In another instant he had turned the lantern
round and revealed her dear sister Bessie to
her gaze. Bessie was seated upon one of the
half empty sacks of mealics, apparently half
asleep. for she opened her wide blue eyes and
looked round apprehensively like ono sud-
denly awakened. Her golden curls were in
disorder and falling over her fair forehead,
and her face was very pale and troubled, and
marked beneath the eyes with deep blue lines.
Catching sight of her visitor, she rose bur
riedly and retreated as far from him as the
pile of sacks and potatoes would allow.
What is it!" she said, in q low voice. II
gave you my answer. Why do you come to
torment me again!'
He placed the lantern upon an upright sack
Of mcalies, and carefully balanced it before
he answered. jess could see that he WAS
taking time to consider.
"Let US recapitulate,'' he said, at length, in
his full, rich voice. "Ths position is this. I
gave you this morning the choice between
consenting to marry me tomorrow and see
ing your old uncle and benefactor shot. Fur
thcr, l assured you that if you would not
consent to marry mo your uncle should be
shot, and that l would then mako you mine,
dispensing with the ceremony Of marriage.
Is that not sop
Bessie made no answer, and he continued,
his eyes fixed upon her face and thoughtfully
stroking his beard.
"Silencc gives consent. I will go on. Be.
fore a man can be shot according to law he
must be tried and condemned according to
law. Your uncle has been tried and has been
condemned"
II heard it all, cruel murderer that you
are said Bessie, lifting her head for the first
time.
so! | thought you would, through the
crack. That is why I had you put into this
place; it would not ave looked well to bring
you before the court" and Ee took tho light
and examined the c~revice. "This place is
badly built" he went on, in . careless tone;
'look, there is another space there at the
back" and he actually came up to It and held
the lantern close to it so that the light from
it shone through into jess eyes and nearly
blinded her. She shut them quickly, 80 that
the CLEAN reflected from them should not be-
tray her, and then held her breath and re-
manned as still as the dead. In another Sec
ond he took away the light and replaced it on
the mealio bag.
$50 you say you saw it all. Well, it must
have shown you that / was in earnest. The
old man took it well, did he not. He is a
brave man and l respect him. l fancy that
he will not move a muscle at the last. That
comes Of English blood, You sec. 1t is the
best in the world, and 1 am proud to nave it
i'll my veins"
Cannot you stop torturing me and say
what you have to sayy' asked Bessie.
Il had no wish to torture you, but il you
like I will come to the point. It is this. Will
YOU now consent to marry me tomorrow
morning at sun up, or am I to be forced to
carry the sentence on your old uncle into
~effectl"
Il will not. will not. 1 hate you and
defy YOU"
Muller looked at her coldly, and then drew
his pockctbook from his pocket and extracted
from it the death warrant and O pencil.
Look, Bessie he said. "This is your
unc!e's death warrant. At present it is value
less and informal, for l have not yet signed,
though. as You will see, I have been careful
that everybody else should. If once I place
my signature there it cannot be revoked, and
the sentence must be carried into effect, If
you persist in your refusal I will sign It be-
fore your eyes, and he placed the paper on
the boob and took the pencil in his right
hand.
"Oh, you cannot, you cannot be such q
fiend, )" walled the wretched woman, wringing
her hands.
II assure you you are mistaken. both can
and will. I have gone too fur to turn back
for the sake Of one old Englishman. Listen,
Bessie. Your lover Mel is dead, thai you
know"
Here jess behind the wall felt inclined to
cry out 1T is a lie!'' but, remembering the
absolute necessity of silence, checked herself.
"And, what is more,' went on Muller,
"your sister jess is dead too; she died two
days ago."
jess dead! jess dead! It is not true.
How do you know that she il dead!'
Never mind; will tell you when we are
married. She is dead, and except for your
uncle you are alone in the world. If YOU per.